On April 16, 1947, more than 2,000 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer ignited and detonated aboard a vessel in the Port of Texas City. The resulting explosion destroyed the entire dock area and either destroyed or seriously damaged hundreds of nearby buildings. The final death toll was estimated to be around 576, but 178 were still listed as missing. We looked through our archives and elsewhere to bring you this collection of photos from the scene.

On April 16, 1947, more than 2,000 tons of ammonium nitrate...

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Undated: A photo of the SS Grandcamp freighter docked in Texas City, originally published in the 1940s. The French-registered vessel was carrying ammonium nitrate fertilizer that had previously been used in the production of explosive devices.

Photo: Chronicle

Undated: A photo of the SS Grandcamp freighter docked in Texas...

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April 16, 1947: Nearly 600 people died when a freighter docked at Texas City exploded. The huge cloud of smoke created by the 1947 explosion of the French ship Grandcamp caused many to fear that an atomic bomb had detonated.

Photo: Unknown, Houston Chronicle

April 16, 1947: Nearly 600 people died when a freighter docked at...

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April 16, 1947: Story Sloane Jr. was a 17-year-old photographer at San Jacinto High School when he heard the explosion in Texas City. With a deputy friend of his, he made his way to Texas City as soon as possible.

April 16, 1947:According to the Handbook of Texas, the first explosion occurred as the SS Grandcamp when the ammonium nitrate it carried caught fire. As onlookers gathered near the dock area to watch fire crews attempt to extinguish the fire, the ship exploded.
At least 576 people were killed in the wake of the April 16 explosion. About 15 hours after the first blast, the nearby SS High Flyer exploded.

April 16, 1947: This fire engine was blown partly onto the deck of this barge in the explosion.

Photo: AP

April 16, 1947: This fire engine was blown partly onto the deck of...

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April 16, 1947: Apparently trying to help the nurse give first aid to an injured child is an older victim of the blast at one of the emergency aid stations set up in the city.

Photo: Chester Rogers, Houston Chronicle

April 16, 1947: Apparently trying to help the nurse give first aid...

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April 16, 1947: A portable crane raises a wrecked car from the wreckage caused by the explosion and fire. The search for dead and injured in the blast continues.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

April 16, 1947: A portable crane raises a wrecked car from the...

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Undated: The force of the Grandcamp explosion, coupled with flying debris produced by the blast, left this scene of destruction. A surge of water pushed from the harbor added to the damage.

Photo: Chronicle

Undated: The force of the Grandcamp explosion, coupled with flying...

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Undated: Texas City Disaster 1947

Photo: Chron File

Undated: Texas City Disaster 1947

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Undated: Hundreds of anxious people crowd the sidewalks outside the Texas City Auditorium as they await possible word of missing relatives. The auditorium was early set up as an aid station for those lightly wounded in the blast and a general clearing house of information.

Photo: Chester Rogers, Houston Chronicle

Undated: Hundreds of anxious people crowd the sidewalks outside the...

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Undated: Texas City Disaster 1947

Photo: Chron File

Undated: Texas City Disaster 1947

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April 17, 1947: A photograph of the front page of the Houston Chronicle, which reported the Texas City disaster.

April 17, 1947: A nurse at the Navy hospital at Hitchcock
Field, near Texas City cares for Tony Reina, 12 (left) and Benny
Bradford, 11, whose parents were missing after explosions rocked Texas
City.

Photo: Associated Press

April 17, 1947: A nurse at the Navy hospital at Hitchcock Field,...

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April 17, 1947: More evidence of the death toll at Texas City are the hearses grouped in front of the high school gymnasium, which is being used as a morgue.

Photo: Houston Chronicle Files

April 17, 1947: More evidence of the death toll at Texas City are...

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April 17, 1947: With a poignant cry of "Oh, God, how can I tell my baby, " the young mother shown above was led away from the high school gymnasium at Texas City Thursday afternoon, after identifying the body of her husband. He was killed in the original blast. The gymnasium was used as a morgue.

Photo: ., Houston Chronicle Files

April 17, 1947: With a poignant cry of "Oh, God, how can I tell my...

Image 32 of 65

April 17, 1947: Barbara Jean Wade is shown with her uncle, B. L. Hendrick, employe of Ford, Bacon & Davis Construction Company, as they slept beside the high school gymnasium while awaiting a ride to Houston.

Photo: ., Houston Chronicle Files

April 17, 1947: Barbara Jean Wade is shown with her uncle, B. L....

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April 17, 1947: While her relatives try to console her, a young wife is led away from the Texas City high school gymnasium after identifying the body of her husband, killed in the explosion.

Photo: ., Houston Chronicle Files

April 17, 1947: While her relatives try to console her, a young...

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April 17, 1947: Dramatic pathos, symbolizing the Texas City disaster, was etched in every face of citizens who lined up in front of the high school gymnasium Thursday. They were waiting to view the row upon row of bodies in the gymnasium - anxious to know, but hoping fervently that their loved ones were not there. The line is shown in the picture above, with one body being removed after having been identified.

Photo: Houston Chronicle Files

April 17, 1947: Dramatic pathos, symbolizing the Texas City...

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April 21, 1947: Boy Scouts placed wreaths honoring the men who died 111 years ago at San Jacinto and the men, women and children who died last week at Texas City, on the steps of the San Jacinto monument Monday afternoon. Left to right, the boys are, Dick Morgan, Edwin Donaho, Ralph Stevenson, Gary Armitage and George Parr, all of Troop 19.

Photo: Bill Nottingham, Houston Chronicle

April 21, 1947: Boy Scouts placed wreaths honoring the men who died...

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April 17, 1947: Some of the clothing and supplies received in large amounts by the Red Cross at the City Auditorium on Thursday afternoon are shown above. A Boy Scout volunteer worker, Kenneth Onarecker, is shown turning over some of the clothing he collected to Mrs. Lillian Crawford, chairman of clothing and supplies for the Red Cross at the Auditorium.

Photo: Houston Chronicle Files

April 17, 1947: Some of the clothing and supplies received in large...

Image 37 of 65

April 17, 1947: Accompanied by her injured friend (left), Robert Gaeway, Nina Faye Adams emerges sobbing from the Texas City emergency morgue. She had just identified the body of her brother.

Photo: Maurice Miller, Houston Chronicle

April 17, 1947: Accompanied by her injured friend (left), Robert...

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April 17, 1947: The names of the identified dead are listed on blackboards outside the makeshift emergency morgue at the Texas City high school gymnasium.

Photo: Maurice Miller, Houston Chronicle

April 17, 1947: The names of the identified dead are listed on...

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April 16, 2008: Pye Zaragoza, left, his wife, Mary Zaragoza, Francisco Garcia and his wife, Jeannette Garcia, right, reflect during a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the 1947 Texas City disaster at Memorial Park in Texas City.

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

April 16, 2008: Pye Zaragoza, left, his wife, Mary Zaragoza,...

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Texas City Disaster 1947

Photo: Chron File

Texas City Disaster 1947

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Texas City Disaster 1947

Photo: Chron File

Texas City Disaster 1947

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Texas City explosion, April 16, 1947.

Photo: Caroline Valenta : Post File

Texas City explosion, April 16, 1947.

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Blasted: This is the interior of the main building of the Monsanto Chemical company's Texas City plant, partially destroyed by explosions and fire Wednesday. Plaster from the ceiling is shown strewn along the stairway, April 16, 1947.

Photo: Caroline Valenta : Post Photo

Blasted: This is the interior of the main building of the Monsanto...

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Aftermath following April 16, 1947, blast at Texas City. According to the Handbook of Texas the disaster occurred when the ship SS Grandcamp exploded at 9:12 a.m. at the docks in Texas City.

Photo: Story Sloane Jr.

Aftermath following April 16, 1947, blast at Texas City. According...

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Texas City disaster, April 1947.

Photo: Story Sloane Jr.

Texas City disaster, April 1947.

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Texas City explosion, April 1947.

Photo: Story Sloane Jr.

Texas City explosion, April 1947.

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Aftermath of Texas City explosion, April 1947.

Photo: Story Sloane Jr.

Aftermath of Texas City explosion, April 1947.

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Burning tanks, Texas City, April 1947.

Photo: Story Sloane Jr.

Burning tanks, Texas City, April 1947.

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Aftermath of Texas City disaster, April 1947.

Photo: Story Sloane Jr.

Aftermath of Texas City disaster, April 1947.

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A photograph of the front page of the Houston Chronicle's April 17, 1947 edition, which reported the Texas City disaster.

A photograph of the front page of the Houston Chronicle's April 17,...

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04/17/1947 - Accompanied by her injured friend (left), Robert Gaeway, Nina Faye Adams emerges sobbing from the Texas City emergency morgue. She had just identified the body of her brother.

Photo: Maurice Miller, Houston Chronicle

04/17/1947 - Accompanied by her injured friend (left), Robert...

Image 52 of 65

04/17/1947 - The names of the identified dead are listed on blackboards outside the makeshift emergency morgue at the Texas City high school gymnasium.

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster - Identified body is removed from the Texas City high school gymnasium being used as makeshift morgue as people wait in line to enter to search for bodies of loved ones. staff / Houston Chronicle files HOUCHRON CAPTION (04/18/1947): Dramatic pathos, symbolizing the Texas City disaster, was etched in every face of citizens who lined up in front of the high school gymnasium Thursday. They were waiting to view the row upon row of bodies in the gymnasium - anxious to know, but hoping fervently that their loved ones were not there. The line is shown in the picture above, with one body being removed after having been identified.

Photo: Houston Chronicle Files

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster - Identified body is removed from...

Image 56 of 65

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster - hearses wait to transport identified bodies at Texas City high school gymnasium being used as makeshift morgue as people wait outside to enter to search for bodies of loved ones. staff / Houston Chronicle files HOUCHRON CAPTION (04/18/1947): Mute evidence of the death toll at Texas City are the hearses grouped in front of the high school gymnasium, which is being used as a morgue.

Photo: Houston Chronicle Files

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster - hearses wait to transport...

Image 57 of 65

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster - Young widow leaves the Texas City high school gymnasium being used as a makeshift morgue after identifying the body of her husband killed in the explosion. staff / Houston Chronicle files HOUCHRON CAPTION (04/18/1947): With a poignant cry of "Oh, God, how can I tell my baby, " the young mother shown above was led away from the high school gymnasium at Texas City Thursday afternoon, after identifying the body of her husband. He was killed in the original blast. The gymnasium is being used as a morgue.

Photo: ., Houston Chronicle Files

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster - Young widow leaves the Texas...

Image 58 of 65

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster - Barbara Jean Wade and her uncle, B. L. Hendrick sleep outside of the Texas City high school gymnasium while they wait for their ride to Houston. Hendrick is an employee of Ford, Bacon & Davis Construction Company. staff / Houston Chronicle files HOUCHRON CAPTION (04/18/1947): Barbara Jean Wade is shown with her uncle, B. L. Hendrick, employe of Ford, Bacon & Davis Construction Company, as they slept beside the high school gymnasium while awaiting a ride to Houston.

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster - Young widow leaves the Texas City high school gymnasium being used as a makeshift morgue after identifying the body of her husband killed in the explosion. staff / Houston Chronicle files HOUCHRON CAPTION (04/18/1947): While her relatives try to console her, a young wife is led away from the Texas City high school gymnasium after identifying the body of her husband, killed in the explosion.

Photo: ., Houston Chronicle Files

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster - Young widow leaves the Texas...

Image 60 of 65

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster Red Cross relief collection at City Auditorium in Houston - Boy Scout Kenneth Onarecker passes donated clothes and shoes to Lillian Crawford, Red Cross worker serving as chairman of clothing and supplies. staff / Houston Chronicle HOUCHRON CAPTION (04/18/1947): Some of the clothing and supplies received in large amounts by the Red Cross at the City Auditorium Thursday afternoon are shown above. A Boy Scout volunteer worker, Kenneth Onarecker, is shown turning over some of the clothing he collected to Mrs. Lillian Crawford, chairman of clothing and supplies for the Red Cross at the Auditorium.

Photo: Houston Chronicle Files

04/17/1947 - Texas City Disaster Red Cross relief collection at...

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04/16/1947 - A portable crane raises a wrecked car from the wreckage caused by the explosion and fire. The search for dead and injured in the blast continues.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

04/16/1947 - A portable crane raises a wrecked car from the...

Image 62 of 65

04/16/1947 - Apparently trying to help the nurse give first aid to an injured child is an older victim of the blast at one of the emergency aid stations set up in the city.

Photo: Chester Rogers, Houston Chronicle

04/16/1947 - Apparently trying to help the nurse give first aid to...

Image 63 of 65

04/16/1947 - Crumpled and tossed about by the explosion were these cars in the parking lot of the Monsanto Chemical Corporation. Behind the cars may be seen the main office building of the company framed against a curtain of black smoke.

Photo: Chester Rogers, Houston Chronicle

04/16/1947 - Crumpled and tossed about by the explosion were these...

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04/16/1947 - This fire engine was blown partly onto the deck of this barge in the explosion.

The Wednesday night explosion that destroyed a fertilizer plant and devastated the Central Texas town of West came within days of the anniversaries of the 1947 Texas City and the 1995 Oklahoma City explosions.

All involved ammonia-based fertilizer.

The Texas City blast - the deadliest man-made disaster in Texas history - began early on the morning of April 16, 1947, as a fire broke out on the SS Grandcamp, a French vessel loaded with fertilizer. At 9:12 a.m., the vessel exploded, destroying the dock and at least 1,000 residences and buildings.

Fire spread to a second vessel also loaded with fertilizer. That ship, the SS High Flyer, was towed 100 feet from the docks, where it, too, blew up.

The concussion was felt as far away as Port Arthur; the explosion generated a 15-foot tidal wave.

The death count reached 576 and as many as 178 were listed as missing. Thousands were injured. Many of the dead and injured had gathered near the docks to watch the burning vessel.

The accident generated more than 3,000 lawsuits and resulted in new regulations in the manufacture and shipping of chemicals.

The April 19, 1995, explosion at Oklahoma City's Murrah Federal Building was more sinister.

At 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995, a rental truck packed with 7,000 pounds of fertilizer exploded at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people, 19 of them children younger than 6, and injuring 680.

The bombing was in retaliation for the federal raid on the Waco-area Branch Davidian compound, which had ended with the deaths of about 80 inhabitants on April 19, 1993.

Timothy McVeigh was convicted of detonating the bomb, and was sentenced to death. He was executed on June 11, 2001. Co-conspirator Terry Nichols is serving multiple life sentences in the case.

Ammonia for industrial uses was first produced in Germany shortly before World War I. In 1921, an explosion at an Oppau fertilizer factory killed 450 people.

As an instrument of terror, ammonia-based fertilizer was the key ingredient in recent bombings in India and Norway.

Eight people were killed and 209 injured when a car bomb detonated in downtown Oslo on July 22, 2011.

In India, 12 died and 76 were injured when a suitcase bomb exploded in Delhi on Sept. 7, 2011; 17 died and 119 were injured in two Feb. 21 explosions in Hyderabad.